Valve



I. H. SPENCER.

VALVE. APPLICATION FILED ocT.2I, l9l8.

.Zrrvenfar Patented J an. 27, 1920.

'UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA H. SPENCER, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPENCERTURBINE COMPANY, OF I-IAR'IFOR'D, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON-NEGTICUT.

VALVE.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application filed October 2]., 1918. Serial No. 259,106.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, TBA H. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Vest Hartford, in the county of Hart-- ford and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and Improved Valve, of which thefollowing is a specification,

My invention relates to the class of valves to regulate and control flowof fluids through pipes and other passages, and an object of myinvention, among others, is to provide a valve of this class that shallbe automatic in action to maintain a predetermined condition as to flowof fluids through the passage controlled thereby.

One form of valve embodying my invention and in the constrtution and useof which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained,is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is aview in central longitudinal section through a valve case and valveoperating members embodying my invention, said case being shown asattached to the outlet of a compressor, a fragment of which is shown.

Fig. 2 is a view in section on plane denoted by dotted line 22 of Fig. 1of my improved valve.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the valve lever retaining rack, said leverbeing cut in section on plane denoted by dotted line 3-3 of Fig. 1. I v

My improved valve may be employed in connection with conduits orpassages for flow of fluids of various sorts. It is shown herein asapplied to the outlet passage from a turbo-compressor, in connectionwith which I have found it to produce extremely satisfactory results. Inthe construction thus employed by me a case 5. preferably round whenviewed in cross section, is made use of, this case having flanges 6 as ameans for securing it, as by means of bolts or other fastenings, to anoutlet tube 7 of the shell 8 of a turbo-compressor. A valve or damper 9,formed to closely fit the interior of the case 5, is secured to a valvespindle 1O rotatably mounted in a neck 11 extending from one side of thecase 5. A rack supporting frame 12 is secured to the neck 11, in anysuitable manner. as shown herein this frame comprising a collar 13,split on one side and secured in place as by means of a clamp screw 14that firmly binds the collar to the neck. This frame alsocomprises arack segment 15 supported on the outer ends of arms radiating from thecollar 13, the edge of this segment being provided with valve holdingteeth 16 to receive the edge of a valve lever 17 having an operatinghandle 18 at its outer end by means of which the valve may be manuallyoperated.

In the operation of turbo-compressors of the class now underconsideration and driven by an electric motor, it is of the utmostimportance that the outlet shall be closed when the motor is beingstarted as otherwise there is much danger, unless an abnormally largefuse be employed, of blowing the fuse, owing to the excessive loadcaused by the free flow of air through the outlet, should it be open. Myimproved valve eliminates such a possibility and when used in connectionwith a turbo-compressor it will automatically close the valve wheneverthe compressor ceases its operation or, during operation, reaches apoint where its efiectiveness is reduced to a minimum extent.

To produce this result I employ a receiver 19, the interior of which isin communication, by means of a tube 20, with a chamber or passage forthe air operated upon by the turbo-compressor, so that the condition ofsuch air as to density will be communicated to and exist within thechamber in the receiver 19. A diaphragm Zl extends across the chamber inthe receiver, dividing it into two compartments, this diaphragm being ofa flexible character to respond to and be operated by changes in theconditions of the air within the receiver 19. A retaining pin 22 issecured to the diaphragm and projectsthrough a hub 23 on the under sideof the receiver. the outer end of this pin engaging within a recess 24in the upper side of the lever 17 The hub of the receiver is secured inany suitable manner to the upper end of the valve spindle. A spiralspring 25 has one end secured to the valve lever, or other part carriedby the spindle 10, the other end of said spring being secured to the endof the neck 11, or other immovable part. The spring exerts a force toturn the spindle 10 and also a force to raise the lever 17. turning iton its pivot 26 by means of which it is pivotally secured to the spindle10. The rack embodying the teeth 16 is inclined downwardly from that endat which the lever 17 rests when the valve is in its open position tothe opposite end at which said lever is located when said valve is inits closed position.

In operation let it-be assumed that the turbo-compressor is running atfull speed and that the valve is open, in which position the lever 17will be engaged with the rack teeth 16 at the left hand side of the rackas shown in Fig. 3, and at the upper end of the rack as shown in Fig. 2.Under the conditions thus existing the pressure at the upper side of thediaphragm 21 in the chamber will cause it to be forced downward and theend of the pin 22 will engage the recess in the lever 17 and hold it inengagement with the teeth 16, thus compressing the spring 25. IVhen thepressure in the chamber at the upper side of the diaphragm 21 becomesreduced to a predetermined extent, as the compressor slows down in itsoperation, the pin 22 will gradually rise until it releases the lever17. Ihe spring 25 will thus be permitted to expand lengthwise and forcethe lever 17 out of engagement with the rack teeth 16, the lever turningon its pivot 26. The spring 25, when the lever is in position with thevalve open, is also under a torsional force so that as soon as the leveris released from the higher tooth of the rack the lever will be swung toone side, rotating the valve spindle 10 and closing the valve 9, in thestructure as herein shown the lever being thus moved from left to rightas shown in Fig. 3. The inclined position of the rack teeth as shown inFig. 3 prevents the valve lever from sliding in engagement with theedges of the teeth in this movement, said lever being entirely free fromthe geeth after it disengages from the higher toot It will be readilyobserved that the lever may be placed in engagement with the teeth sothat the valve 9 may be held in any position desired, and the automaticclosing movement above described will take place when the valve is inany of such positions.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principles of operation of my. invention, together withthe device which I now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof; but I desire to have it understood that the deviceshown is onlyillustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

I claim:

1. A valve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein, a valve spindle, means to exert force on said spindle to movethe valve in the case, a member to hold said spindle in one position,and means connected with said member to control its operation, saidmeans being operable by pressure of fluid, the flow of which iscontrolled by said valve.

2. A valve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein, a valve spindle, means to exert force on said spindle to movethe valve in the case, a member to hold said spindle in one position, aretaining member to engage said holding member, and a diaphragmconnected with said retaining member and connected for operation bypressure of fluid, the flow of which is controlled by said valve.

3. A valve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein, a valve spindle, means to exert force on said spindle to movethe valve in the case, a member to hold said valve spindle in oneposition, means to hold said member against movement, said means beingout of the path of movement of said member after it is disengaged fromsaid means, and means for automatically releasing said member. 4. Avalve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein, a valve spindle, means to exert force on said spindle to movethe valve in the case, a member to hold said spindle in one position, arack to receive said member, the teeth of said rack being inclineddownwardly away fromthe path of movement of said memher in its operationto move the valve, and means for releasing said member.

5. A valve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein, a valve spindle, means to exert force on said spindle to moveit longitudinally and to rotate it, a member to hold the spindle in oneposition, and means connected with said member to operate it, said meansbeing operable by pressure of fluid, the flow of which is controlled bysaid valve.

6. A valve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein, a valve spindle, means to exert force on said spindle to rotateit, a member movably', connected with the spindle to hold it inpredetermined positions, said member being connected with said forceexerting means for movement thereby, and means operatively connectedwith said member and operable by pressure of fluid, the flow of which iscontrolled by said valve.

7. A valve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein. a

valve spindle, a spiral spring surrounding said spindle and having oneend connected to a stationary part and the opposite end connected withsaid spindle, a holding member pivotally connected with the spindle,means for retaining said holding member, and releasing means connectedwith said member, said releasing means being operable by pressure offluid, the flow of which is controlled by said valve.

8. A valve case, a valve located in the case to control a fluid passagetherein, mechanical means to eXert force on said valve to operate it, amember to hold said valve in one position, and means connected With saidmember to operate it, said means being operable by pressure of fluid,the flow of which is controlled by said valve.

9. A valve case, a pressure operated valve located in the case tocontrol a fluid ms 10 sage therein, a member to hold said valve in oneposition, and means connected with said member to control its operation,said means being operable by pressure of fluid, the flow of Which iscontrolled by said valve.

IRA H. SPENCER.

